bowen



(No Model.) V I 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. G.A-, BOWEN.

' EXERGISING APPARATUS. I

No. 515,461. I Patented'feb. 27,: 1894.

UNITED STATES FFICE.

PATENT GEORGE A. BOWEN, OF FOND DU LAO, lVISOONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES L. MUENTER, OF SAME PLACE.

EXERCISING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,461, dated February 27, 1894.

Application filed November 17, 1892. Serial No. 45 2,254. (No model.)

To all! whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GE RGE A. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fond du Lac, in the county of Fond du Lac, and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supporting-Frames forExer'cisingAppai-atus, the.

and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention has for its main object to provide a preferably portable and adjustable frame having appendages for the connection of various exercising apparatus, and it consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts hereinafter specified with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my frame and its various appendages, a majority of the exercising devices being assembled for the purpose of convenient illustration; Fig. 2, an inverted plan view of a swing that may be connected to the frame; Fig. 3, a detail elevation of said swing converted into a trapeze; Fig. 4, a like view illustrating a longitudinal frame-brace; Fig. 5, a detail end elevation illustrating a pair of pivotal frame-legs and a triangular spacingblock for the same; Fig. 6, a detail horizontal section illustrating the-connection between a frame-leg and spacing-block; Fig. 7 a detail elevation partly in section illustrating a turnpole in connection with a hanger and staybrace on the frame, and Fig. 8, a like view illustratinga frame-legend a stay-bar detachably connected thereto.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A represents each of aseries of legs pivoted in pairs to extremities of transverse strips 1) on opposite sides of a triangular block B adjacent to the base of the latter, and other transverse strips 0 also on opposite sides of the block, but adjacent to the apex thereof, overlap the legs to impart additional rigidity thereto when they are swung on their pivots to bear against said block to thereby form a triangular support. As shown, there are two of the triangular folding supports, and the legs A of each are provided with recesses 61 on their inner sides above the apex of the interposed block. When the legs of each support are swung on their pivots to impinge against the interposed block their upper ends come together above the apex of said block and the opposing recesses 01 form a seat for a ridge-pole C, the latter and its adjacent support being shown as held against longitudinal movement by means of a stay-collar e and pin f arranged on the pole against opposite sides of said sup port. From about the longitudinal center of the ridge-pole toward the other support I arrange a series of vertical perforations at intervals apart equal to the thickness of the legs in said support, and by means of pins 9 inserted in any two of the perforations that may come on opposite sides of the latter support I lock the same and said ridge-pole against longitudinal displacement.

As a means for bracing the triangular SDP' ports, I provide props D that are pivotally connected to the bases of the triangular blocks that form parts of said supports, the coupling shown being engaging hooks and eyes driven into said props and blocks. Likewise connected to the props are stay-bars E that swing down against the same when not in use, but which are provided with hooks h for engagement with eyes j on the legs of the adjacent supports. As shown in Fig. 1, each prop D maybe provided with a perforated foot-piece'k for engagement with a hold,- ing pin or screw, and a stay-piece F may be hinged to said prop and also provided with a perforated foot-piece. Each of the props D has its under side provided with an appendage, such as an eye m, for the attachment of a variety of exercising devices,and it will be understood that said prop with its several pivotal fixtures folds together with the relative triangular support when the frame is collapsed.

As a matter of preference, I provide one leg A in each pair with a pivotal longitudinal brace G that detachably connects with the parallel leg in the other pair when the frame is set up for a hammock-support. As shown the normally free end of each brace G is provided with a vertical notch that engages a pin n extended laterally from one of the legs A, anda thumb-nut, p holds said brace in its engagement with the pin. The braces G may be of any desirable length and by providing the same with a series of notches at suitable intervals apart the triangular supports may be braced apart at various adjustments on the ridge-pole.

When the braces Gare employed,the hinged stay-pieces F, described in connection with the props D, may be omitted, and when the frame is collapsed, said braces will swing down on the legs to which they are pivoted.

Transverse braces H are pivoted to one leg in each pair and are notched at their free ends to engage a headed pin g on the opposite leg of the same pair, although this detachable connection may be otherwise formed without departure from the spirit of my invention. The transverse leg braces are centrally notched from their lower edges to engage with and stay a turning pole I suspended in suitable hangers J attached to the triangular blocks B above described, but when the turningpole is not in use or at such other times as may be desirable said braces are swung down on their pivots against the relative legs of the frame.

The ridge-pole O is provided with eyes 1' through which pass ropes or other suitable flexible devices K the latter being provided atone end with hand-rings L that at times are engaged with suitable hooks sin the parallel legs of the supports for said ridge-pole. The other ends of the flexible devices K are provided with couplings, such as snap-hooks t, that may engage each other under a swing seat, as shown in Fig. 2, or be connected to hooks or eyes u at the ends of a trapeze bar M, as shown in Fig. 3. When it is desirable to use the hand-rings L the swing or trapeze is uncoupled and the snap-hooks engaged with those hooks s on the frame legs, said hand rings being previously detached from the same.

Pivotally connected to the frame-legs are hangers Nthat loosely engage trunnions 'u on a swing-body P, the latter being one of that class capable of supporting several persons.

In Fig. 1, I show all of the exercising apparatus, excepting the trapeze bar that is interchangeable with the swing-board, this showing being for convenience in the matter of illustration, but it is to be understood when any one of the several exercising devices are in use, the others are detached or otherwise arranged so as not to be in the way.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a ridge-pole, supports for the same individually comprising a pair of legs notched at their upper ends to engage the pole, a triangular spacing-block having pivotal connection with each pair of legs adjacent to their pole-ends and append ages for the connection of various exercising apparatus, substantially as. set, forth.

2. The combination of a ridge-pole, supports for the same individually comprising a pair of legs notched at their upper ends to engage the pole, a triangular spacing-block having pivotal connection with each pair of legs adjacent to their pole-ends, transverse strips on each block in opposition to the adjacent legs when the latter are in bearing contact with said block, and appendages for the connection of various exercising apparatus, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a ridge-pole, supports for the same individually comprising a pair of legs, a triangular spacing block having pivotal connection with each pair of legs adjacent to their upper ends, props pivotally connected tothe spacing blocks, and appendages forthe connection of various exercising apparatus, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination of a ridge-pole supports for he ame n v dually mpri n a pair of legs, a triangular spacing blockhaving pivotal connection with each pair of legs adjacent to their upper ends, props pivot-- ally connected to the spacing blocks,staybars detachably connecting the props and legs; andappendages for the connection of various exercising apparatus, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a ridge-pole, supports for the same individually comprising a pair of legs, a triangular spacing block having pivotal connection witheach pairlof legs adjacent to their pole ends, props pivotally connected to the spacing-blocks, stay-pieces hinged to the under side of props tolrest on the same plane as the legs, and appendages for the connection of various exercising apparatus, substantially as set forth.

6. The pmbination of a ridge-pole, suitable supports for the same, eyes depending from the pole for the engagement of flexible devices each of which has ahand-ring at one end and a coupling at the other end, and catches on the po1e-supports, these catches being for detachable engagement with either said hand-rings or couplings, whereby these devices may be interchangeably in free de pendence from said pole, the couplings serving at times to support a trapeze-bar or look together under a swing-seat in loose engagement with said flexible devices, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a ridge-pole supported by diverging legs arranged in pairs, a centrally notched transverse brace pivotally connected to one leg in each pair, suitable means for detachably connecting the brace with the other leg of the pair, and a hanger that depends intermediate of said legs in each pair, the hangersand the notches in the transverse leg-braces being designed for engagement with a detachable turning pole, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of aridge-pole, diverghave hereunto set my hand, at-Fond du Lac, ent supporting legs for the same united in in th eoounty 0f Fond du Lac and State of Wis- [0 pairs, and a series of hangers each of which cousin, in the presence of two witnesses. is pivoted at its upper end to one of said 5 legs, the lower ends of the hangers being for GEORGE BOWEN loose detachable engagement with trunnions Witnesses: on a swing-body, substantially as set forth. 0. L. MUENTER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I L. MUENTER. 

